Protecting Wild Cat Habitat

Although several fires have already occurred in the Sierra Gorda, none have become major fires, and none have affected any of the reserves. After a wet quarter at the end of 2022, 2023 brought unusually high temperatures and a scarcity of cold fronts, making much of the Sierra Gorda with a high probability of forest fires.

 In the reserves we have had no incidents outside of the routine (inspection tours) or with neighboring properties and beneficiaries of CO2 payments, where we maintained a continuous presence. The constant is conservation and the contrast between the reserves and properties under CO2 payments, and the environmental degradation that prevails in the surrounding areas, where extensive cattle ranching and the resulting deforestation and burning are a constant. During this period, the beneficiaries complied with the terms of the contracts and their forests were not under any circumstances subject to cattle ranching or timber extraction.

 We received Dr. Othón Alcántara and his team from the Institute of Biology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, who have initiated a study on the genetic diversity of one of the Magnolia species (Magnolia rzedowskiana) and the health of its populations. In this first visit, they collected pieces of the leaves, to later study them in the laboratory and find out the health and genetic diversity of the leaves.

In a later visit, we found 25 territorial marks freshly made by a puma the night before, which is always an encouragement and proof of the extent of protection. As well as the Magnolias awakening from their winter dormancy and putting on new leaves.

 And we had the great pleasure of recording for the first time a pair of Tamaulipan Tecolote (Glaucidium sanchezi) endemic to a sector of the Sierra Madre Oriental, of which we suspected its presence but did not know. We are proud to protect its habitat in the Sierra Gorda.

 Also, with the arrival of March, we reactivated our brigade with Abel Reséndiz once again as Brigade Chief, with basically the same members as last year (this is noteworthy, as they withstood the pressure and long days during the fire in the Cerro Prieto reserve), renewing equipment and starting with the maintenance of the firebreaks opened in previous years. And we had the generous contribution of elementary students from the International School of Queretaro to whom Roberto Pedraza gave a talk on the biodiversity of the Sierra Gorda and the effects of fire on it. Yeetlih Gomez organized a collection to support firefighting and bought 10 backpacks, which were given to our brigadistas.

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 Aunque ya se han presentado varios incendios en la Sierra Gorda, ninguno ha pasado a mayores y no han afectado a alguna de las reservas. Luego de un trimestre con humedad a finales de 2022, el 2023 trajo temperaturas inusualmente altas y una escasez de frentes fríos, por lo que mucho de la Sierra Gorda con una alta probabilidad de incendios forestales.

En las reservas no hemos tenido incidentes fuera de lo rutinario (recorridos de inspección) o con los predios vecinos y beneficiarios de los pagos por CO2, donde mantuvimos presencia continua. La constante es la conservación y el contraste entre las reservas y predios bajo los pagos de CO2, y la degradación ambiental que impera en las áreas aledañas, donde la ganadería extensiva y los desmontes y quemas que acarrea son la constante. En este periodo los beneficiarios acataron los términos de los contratos y sus bosques en ningún caso tuvieron la presencia de ganado o la extracción de madera.

Recibimos al Dr. Othón Alcántara y su equipo de trabajo del Instituto de Biología de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, quienes han iniciado un estudio sobre la diversidad genética de una de las especies de Magnolia (Magnolia rzedowskiana) y la salud de sus poblaciones. En esta primera visita colectaron trozos de las hojas, para después estudiarlos en laboratorio y encontrar la salud y diversidad genética de las mismas.

En recorrido posterior, encontramos 25 marcas territoriales recién hechas por un puma la noche anterior, lo que siempre es un aliciente y prueba del alcance de la protección. Así como las Magnolias despertando de su letargo invernal y vistiéndose con hojas nuevas.

 Y tuvimos el enorme gusto de registrar por primera ocasión a una pareja del Tecolote Tamaulipeco (Glaucidium sanchezi) endémico a un sector de la Sierra Madre Oriental, del cual sospechábamos su presencia, pero no nos constaba. Un orgullo proteger sus hábitats en la Sierra Gorda.

 También con la llegada de marzo, reactivamos a nuestra brigada con una vez más Abel Reséndiz como Jefe de Brigada, con básicamente los mismos integrantes del año pasado (esto es de destacar, pues aguantaron la presión y largas jornadas durante el incendio en la reserva del Cerro Prieto), renovando equipo y comenzando ellos con el mantenimiento de las brechas corta fuego abiertas en años anteriores. Y tuvimos el generoso aporte de alumnos de primaria de la International School of Queretaro, a quienes Roberto Pedraza ofreció una plática sobre la biodiversidad de la Sierra Gorda y los efectos del fuego en la misma. Luego de ello, los mismos con el apoyo de su profesora, la Lic. Yeetlih Gomez organizaron una colecta para apoyar al combate del fuego y compraron 10 mochilas, que fueron entregadas a nuestros brigadistas.

Links:

• https://mtr.bio/gesgiap
• http://www.sierragorda.net

Fortunately for the Sierra Gorda, its forests and wildlife, autumn brought gentle drizzles that have made up in part for the poor rainy season. While the backlog is real and streams and springs did not run this year, these rains with the first cold fronts have brought much needed moisture, so the forests are in good condition and without water stress. 

We built fences to keep out the cattle of some neighboring landowners in two of the reserves, as well as maintenance of the fences in others. We have not had any incidents outside of the routine (inspection rounds) or with neighboring properties, except for the expulsion of cattle from neighboring properties that invade the reserves.

During the tours we found tracks, territorial marks and excrement of pumas and jaguars, peccary nests, quail scratching grounds and troops of coatimundis, which tells us about the health and wild state of their ecosystems.

In one of the tours through the cloud forest, we had the great pleasure of finding the rare orchid Lemboglossum rossii in full bloom, a species exclusive to the cloud forest and in serious danger of extinction. Let's remember that in Mexico less than 1% of the cloud forests survive, they are home to 12% of its flora diversity and 33% of it is endemic to them. The relicts of cloud forests are truly living treasures, and other species that we protect, typical of them are the Imperial Bromeliad (Tillandsia imperialis) or the Mexican Royal Oak (Quercus germana), of which we attach images.

We are also proud that the illegal logging, so public and cynical that occurs around the reserves does not touch any of them, which is a great satisfaction given the complete lack of environmental authority in the region. None of the reserves have recorded logging or timber theft, which is unique in the region and their value to wildlife is reinforced by the level of protection we are able to give them.